Just received MCAT score: withdraw or continue applying?

[jdebellamd]

Hi everyone,

I just received my MCAT score about an hour ago and scored a 508 (128/125/126/129). While I’m not necessarily disappointed with my score, it is below what I expected, seeing as I had always scored ~128 on CARS and B/B. The major issue is now I’m incredibly unsure if I should continue this application cycle or reapply during the next.

My AMCAS is already verified, but so far was only sent to one school in order to prepare for this scenario. My cGPA is a 3.58 from a top 10 school and my sGPA is ~3.4. That being said, I do have a strong upward trend, with an average GPA of 3.75 during my last 2 years and a 4.0 during my last semester. I am happy with my ECs, and am currently working in direct patient care as an HIV prevention specialist for MSM. I am a NY resident, URM (Puerto Rican), bilingual, and SES disadvantaged according to AMCAS. I have downloaded all secondary essays, but have not yet prewritten any.

The major issue for me is that I’m really aiming to attend medical school in NYC for personal reasons, and I am aware that most (if not all) schools are a very long shot with my numbers. I would be open to taking a second gap year and applying next cycle, but the only way I could improve my application is to possibly retake the MCAT, seeing as I have no money/desire to attend a post-bac or grad program. I’m very much on the fence about continuing this cycle, and any advice/insight would be greatly appreciated.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[gyngyn]

Mainland Puerto Ricans are a sought-after segment of the applicant pool.
You should be fine with a 508 if you speak Spanish (and if that is your only score) .
I don't know which schools are located in the city, but you should be fine if you apply to schools on the east coast.

 

[DokterMom]

Please do apply --

NYC is of course, Plan A for you, so apply to all NYC schools. Your MCAT is 'fine' and suggests you will succeed in medical school. With all of your other strengths (top school, strong GPA, ECs, bilingual + URM), I'd suggest your chances are better than you think.

That said, do also consider your Plan B -- Would you rather go to medical school outside of NYC in the next cycle? Expand your geography to the 'greater NE' region, add DO schools, or retake the MCAT and wait another year?

Just don't apply to any school you would not be willing to attend if accepted. If you apply to a borderline school and get interviewed, decide quickly whether you'd rather attend there or wait a year.

Good Luck!

 

[PreMedMissteps]

Are you from PR? If not, have you spent time there? Family there?

Were you planning on applying to any PR meds? If not, why not? Sounds like you'd be a strong applicant?

What is the one school you've applied to already?

What is your state? Does it have many public SOMs?

If PR is considered URM for med schools, I think you still have a good chance.

 

[futureDocDD]

Make sure apply to all the med schools in NYC, including Downstate, NYMC ... and Hofstra (not that far, 30 min drive).

 

[jdebellamd]

Thanks so much to all who have responded! I really appreciate it. To clear up some questions:

508 is my only score, and I am planning on applying to every medical school in NYS, as well as some others for a total of ~23. My major concern is the combination of my GPA/MCAT, which is especially low for most NYC schools (LizzyM: 65.8). The school I already applied to is Einstein, because I completed a SURP program there last summer. I do have direct ties to Puerto Rico, but I have not considered applying to Puerto Rican schools because I would be far from my immediate family.

 

[Goro]

Thanks so much to all who have responded! I really appreciate it. To clear up some questions:

508 is my only score, and I am planning on applying to every medical school in NYS, as well as some others for a total of ~23. My major concern is the combination of my GPA/MCAT, which is especially low for most NYC schools (LizzyM: 65.8). The school I already applied to is Einstein, because I completed a SURP program there last summer. I do have direct ties to Puerto Rico, but I have not considered applying to Puerto Rican schools because I would be far from my immediate family.

Also recommend:


Duke
USC/Keck
Dartmouth
Mayo
U VM
Miami
George Washington
Georgetown
SLU
Rush
Rosy Franklin
MCW
VCU
EVMS
Wake Forest
Netter
Jefferson
Temple
Drexel
Creighton
Tulane
Loyola
Uniformed Services University/Hebert (just be aware of the military service commitment)

 

[LizzyM]

I am going out on a limb here but I think that any of the NY schools would be happy to have you. I'd suggest that you go as far south as Philly, which is closer to the city than Buffalo, isn't it?

 

[jdebellamd]

Goro, you actually covered most of the schools on my list that are outside NY!

I am going out on a limb here but I think that any of the NY schools would be happy to have you. I'd suggest that you go as far south as Philly, which is closer to the city than Buffalo, isn't it?

Thank you so much for the encouragement, it truly means a lot. You're exactly right about Buffalo/Rochester, and I'm going as far south as DC (applying to GW & Georgetown) and sticking to the east coast.

 

[eyejust]

Hi everyone,

I just received my MCAT score about an hour ago and scored a 508 (128/125/126/129). While I’m not necessarily disappointed with my score, it is below what I expected, seeing as I had always scored ~128 on CARS and B/B. The major issue is now I’m incredibly unsure if I should continue this application cycle or reapply during the next.

My AMCAS is already verified, but so far was only sent to one school in order to prepare for this scenario. My cGPA is a 3.58 from a top 10 school and my sGPA is ~3.4. That being said, I do have a strong upward trend, with an average GPA of 3.75 during my last 2 years and a 4.0 during my last semester. I am happy with my ECs, and am currently working in direct patient care as an HIV prevention specialist for MSM. I am a NY resident, URM (Puerto Rican), bilingual, and SES disadvantaged according to AMCAS. I have downloaded all secondary essays, but have not yet prewritten any.

The major issue for me is that I’m really aiming to attend medical school in NYC for personal reasons, and I am aware that most (if not all) schools are a very long shot with my numbers. I would be open to taking a second gap year and applying next cycle, but the only way I could improve my application is to possibly retake the MCAT, seeing as I have no money/desire to attend a post-bac or grad program. I’m very much on the fence about continuing this cycle, and any advice/insight would be greatly appreciated.

I'm a URM with near identical stats as you and I have the goal of attending school in the city as well! We got this!

 

[Goro]

Hofstra is 1/2 train ride
SUNY SB is only 1 hour trainride

There's a train that goes to or near Hofstra??

 

[jdebellamd]

I'm a URM with near identical stats as you and I have the goal of attending school in the city as well! We got this!

Best of luck to you! Praying for the both of us

 

[jdebellamd]

There's a train that goes to or near Hofstra??

Not subway, but the LIRR does!

 

[Goro]

Not subway, but the LIRR does!

Not quite to Hofstra. I'd hate to have to bike that in the winter!

 

[Pandion]

Not quite to Hofstra. I'd hate to have to bike that in the winter!

I believe Hofstra runs a shuttle bus to the closest LIRR stops, though.

 

[br2pi5]

Also recommend:


Duke
USC/Keck
Dartmouth
Mayo
U VM
Miami
George Washington
Georgetown
SLU
Rush
Rosy Franklin
MCW
VCU
EVMS
Wake Forest
Netter
Jefferson
Temple
Drexel
Creighton
Tulane
Loyola
Uniformed Services University/Hebert (just be aware of the military service commitment)

Hi Goro! I'm also URM, bilingual (Spanish), SES disadvantaged according to AMCAS, 3.54 GPA (upward trend also for the last 2 years), 3.26 sGPA, 501 MCAT (september 2016) though retaking in 2 weeks, FL resident, good ECs. I was thinking:

BU (undergrad done here)
Rosalind Franklin
George washington
Georgetown
Hofstra
NY medical college
Rush
U of Illinois
Howard
Morehouse
Temple
Jefferson
Meharry

Any other suggestions? Thank you a ton!!
PS. I'm taking a risk of applying before taking the MCAT but if I don't apply until I get my scores, it will be too late :/

 

[gyngyn]

Hi Goro! I'm also URM, bilingual (Spanish), SES disadvantaged according to AMCAS, 3.54 GPA (upward trend also for the last 2 years), 3.26 sGPA, 501 MCAT (september 2016) though retaking in 2 weeks, FL resident, good ECs. I was thinking:

BU (undergrad done here)
Rosalind Franklin
George washington
Georgetown
Hofstra
NY medical college
Rush
U of Illinois
Howard
Morehouse
Temple
Jefferson
Meharry

Any other suggestions? Thank you a ton!!
PS. I'm taking a risk of applying before taking the MCAT but if I don't apply until I get my scores, it will be too late :/

This thread is for OP.
You can start a thread in WAMC!